Chpt 22 - Yup...we're still....still at MK
I'm not sure if I've mentioned this yet, but I don't like change. I believe it was American singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash who said "the key to change is to let go of fear"...or was it Roseanne Barr...the emmy award winning star of the popular TV series "Roseanne"....I always get those two mixed up. Anyway, it's really not important who said it. What is important is that they coudn't be more wrong...because change is evil. However, WDW is unique in the sense that you don’t really want them to change stuff.....but it is so much fun when you get to try something new. So far on our trip, we had experienced Expedition Everest for the first time....and we had seen the changes that had been made to Pirates and Haunted Mansion. Next up was another brand new attraction.....Monster’s Inc Laugh Floor.
Apparently, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor replaced a circle-vision 360 film entitled
The Timekeeper which was shown in a theater called "Tomorrowland Metropolis Science Center". Now, I'm hesitant to besmirch an attraction I've never seen but....I didn't even know this one existed. So, that's probably not a good sign. On the bright side, if I wasn't even aware of its existence....is it technically even a change? I submit that it is not.
Anyway, in the waiting area before you enter the Laugh Floor auditorium, there were signs encouraging people to text in jokes that may be used in the show. Pal Mickey really wanted to do this. Ok....couple of problems. One..Pal Mickey doesn’t have a cell phone because we had to take it away because he kept exceeding his minutes. And two....even his best joke...which has something to do with an astronaut and mistletoe....is pretty lame.
Once inside, we took our seats and the animated host on the screen started to give us all these sounds and actions we all needed to make to enhance our enjoyment of the show. In the seat next to me was a dad sitting with his family... and he was giving the Monsters nothing. Not a smile....not a snicker...not even a titter....nothing. Even worse, he gave us a very dirty look when I reached over and took his pulse while Pal Mickey held a small mirror in front of his mouth to see if he was still breathing. This is behavior that I just don’t understand. I mean, who exactly are you trying to impress with your no-nonsense attitude....Goofy? Believe me....Goofy is on our side. Anyway, despite our grumpy neighbor, we had a blast. And as an added benefit, I found out that I do a spot-on Roz impression....which I tortured Pal Mickey with for the rest of our trip.
Next, we headed on over to It’s a Small World....because that is Tinkershell’s favorite. On her childhood trip to DL, she had ridden this bad boy and fell in love. Tinkershell has a collection of stories that she tells over and over again. In fact, we’ve all heard these particular stories so many times that the kids and I can finish them for her. One of those oft-repeated stories involved childhood Tinkershell taking a whole roll of film during her maiden voyage on IASW...only to find out later that her camera was broken. Understandably, she was devastated....but she's definately made up for it since them. I'm fairly sure that Tinkershell has photographically recorded every square inch of IASW.
IASW is an interesting ride for me. It’s pretty cool at first. You climb into the boats and, before you know it, you are sailing through a magical multi-cultural world full of singing little people. It's not until about the third set change that my left eye starts to twitch....and then I start repeating my name, rank and serial number over and over again....until inevitably I break down and start blurting out secret things like my ATM pin number. I had to...don’t you see? Otherwise, it was never going to stop.
Like lambs to the IASW slaughter
We had an evening ADR for Liberty Tree Tavern and had strategically booked it so that Wishes would end just before dinner time. Our plan was to siddle on over to Liberty Square and then to watch the fireworks from there. Then, after Wishes was over, we could just slip into the restaurant and enjoy our Thanksgiving feast. It was a fine plan....possibly one of our best. Ok, here’s the problem. Wishes was really loud in Liberty Square. I’m talking “drop to your knees and cover your ears” loud here. To be honest....it didn’t really bother me that much, because I haven’t heard much of anything ever since I went to a Styx “Paradise Theater” concert in the 7th grade and stood too close to a bank of speakers. But for the rest of the family, it was too much...especially Pal Mickey...who has ears that only a mother could love. No matter, we still had plenty of opportunities to see Wishes later in the week. I'm sure we'll be fine.
So we ran for the cover of LTT to enjoy our evening meal. LTT was another first for us on this trip and we all gave it two enthusiastic thumbs up....for a grand total of ten enthusiastic thumbs up...well, maybe more like 8 ½ enthusiastic thumbs up because Pal Mickey thumbs are tiny little nubs. Anyway, LTT was still a character meal at that time and we saw loads of them. We did have one awkward moment when Tinkershell mixed up Chip and Dale....even though Dale has that bulbous red nose that is a clear sign of a chronic heavy drinker. I'm not trying to get Dale in trouble here but....he did seem a little unsteady on his feet. I’m not saying....I’m just saying.
The kids helping poor inebriated Dale to a chair
Next up: Chpt 23 - Who's up for 30-40 chapters about a single day at Epcot?